The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-08-18
WALL STREETS KING.
Jay Gould's Personal Characteristics and
Financial Methods.

to be without an ache. He is not on
the verge of the grave, as he has re-
Gently been pictured, although people
who know him will say that he has not
very many years to live. His vitality.
though. is something wonderful. He
''picks up" quickly.
The greatest effort of bis life was his
deal in Union Pacific 1t was make or
break him. Nearly every one who was
associated with him thought that he
would die before he could carry out his
plans. His efforts were successful, and
then came the rest which brought him
relief.
It is said that Mr.. Gould's principal
trouble is due to over-eating. He takes
too much food for man of his size. If
he could curb his appetite ne might
know what good health is. Neuralgia
haunts him like specter. 1t now at
tacks him principally in the face. He
is afraid of its extending to the stomach
and heart, in which case fatal ter
mination would be feared. He takes no
exercise beyond what he gets in attend
ing to his business. He runs up and
down stairs in the big Western Union
building, but his activity in business is
of nervous description that is e1-
haustive instead of healthful. His face
is like piece of putty in hue. How he
is able to stand the great strains that
he is subjected, to is something that
puzzles himself, the doctors, aud every
body who knows him. His tremendous
will-poweris perhaps the best explana-
ton. He is able to hold up when other
men would take to their beds.
Mr.. Gould's fondness for his family is
most laudable. He derives more pleas
ure from the home circle than from any
thing else. In fact, he cares for little
else than the society of his wife and
children. Horses or sports he takes no
interest in. He bought his steam yacht
as much for seclusion as any thing. He
does not use tobacco in any form, and
liquor only as stimulant, and then in
the smallest quantity. He always
dresses well, but not obtrusively. He
is of a most retiring disposition. He
never made but two speeches IN his life,
and they were very brief. In conversa-
ton he is unassuming as in his manners.
He is better listener than talker,
although he has a remarkably impress
sive way of talking when he has any
thing TO say.
He has habit of closing his eyes
when conyersing. which has long been
habit of his, and Is also noteworthy in
his son George j.. whom he is training
as financier. Mr.. Could regard for
his son amounts to devotion. What
ever the young man says is law, or, at
any rate, has his Endorsement and back
ing. Young Mr.. Gould is cautious and
willy, like his father, and has won the
latter's confidence and support by
making few mistakes. 1t was a most
gratifying thing to Mr.. Gould when his
con settled down to business. Young
Mr.. Gould is a hard worker. BE is q
sturdier man than his father. Indeed,
he is quite an athlete, and takes the
greater part of the physical strain from
his f;sher.
Mr.. Gould's financiering is strange.
He likes to take hold of broken-down
road and reorganize it. He will secure
the property for next to nothing, and
issue = vast amount of new securities
for the ostensib!e purpose of putting
1t on its feet" in a financial sense,
furnishing equipment and extending it
or building branches to bring additional
business to it. The old security-holders
will have the right to subscribe for the
new securities at low prices, and then,
when p market is found for them, he
will sell out the new issues at the top
prices. To this plan of stock watering
he adds the other of paying stock
dividends or dividends in scrip which
is convertible into stock. The majority
of Mr.. Gould's security issues have
been in the shape of bonds which are
always more salable than stock. As
bonds can be issued after the stock is.
and be made a prior lien to stock. it is
putting bonds on the market.
1t has been said that Mr.. Gould never
gave except when he was forced to,
which is probably the fact. He is never
actuated by philanthropic motives in
any thing. tits contrary to his nature.
he cares nothing fer $50
ciety." He would, however, sacrifice
a good portion of his fortune to have
"social recognition" on account of his
family. The Goulds, it is generally |
known, are not "society people"
Three years ago Mr.. Gould announced |
his purpose to start on tour of the |
world in his own yacht, the ATLANTA.
The announcement, it turned out, was |
merely for the effect it would have on
the stock market Mr.. Gould has the
yacht, and it is probable, having
his son in the ways of finance,
that before long he will make foreign
tour.
Not the least interesting thing about
Mr.. Gould is his fear of bodily harm.
He is in constant receipt of letters
him with death. 1t has
been said that he has not visited the
scene of the great southwestern railway
strike since it occurred. for fear his
train would be wrecked. That is a
He has been over his lines
and was received at many stations even
with brass bands and Mandatory speeches
showing that in one section of the
it happens that he is popular.